Wednesday, February 24, 2010

According to his attestation papers dated November 15, 1915 at Toronto, James Herod, Mimico, Ontario was born on July 3, 1882 in Haldimand County, Ontario. He listed his wife, Winnifred Herod, Mimico as his next of kin. He was a clerk and had no previous military experience. He was 33 years and 4 months of age and stood 5 feet 2 1/2 inches tall. He had blue eyes, dark brown hair and a medium complexion. He had a scar from an operation for varicocele. He was a Presbyterian.

According to the 1914 Toronto City directory he was a "pdir" living on the west side of Queens Avenue, Mimico.

Photo of William Samuel Herod from "From Brock to Currie: the military development and exploits of Canadians in general and of the men of Peel in particular, 1791 to 1930." Toronto, 1935 by William Perkins Bull - Canadian Virtual War Memorial

According to his attestation papers dated April 7, 1916 at West Toronto, William Samuel Herod of Dixie, Ontario (present day City of Mississauga) was born on March 26, 1890 in Mimico, Ontario. He listed his mother Mrs. Martha Herod, Mimico, as his next of kin. He was a farmer and indicated that he had 3 years previous military experience with the 9th Field Battery and was currently a member of the 12th York Rangers. He was 26 years and 1 month of age and stood 5 feet 8 1/2 inches tall. He had brown eyes, dark brown hair and a fair complexion. He had a slight scar over his heart. He was Presbyterian.

He was a Private in the 1st Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps when he was killed on September 3, 1918. According to the CEF burial register he was killed by shrapnel and concussion on the night of September 3, 1918 whilst acting as driver on an ammunition convoy in the vicinity of Cagnicourt. His body was left by the side of the Arras-Cambrai Road.

It appears that his remains were never found as he is listed on the Vimy Memorial. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website he was the son of Robert Murray Herod and Martha Jane Herod, of 182 Queens Avenue, Mimico Beach, Ontario.

According to his attestation papers dated March 30, 1917 at Toronto Francis Joseph Hickey of Sixth Street, New Toronto was born on March 22, 1900 (January 3, 1899 crossed out). He listed his mother Isabella Hickey, 643 Markham Street, Toronto as his next of kin. He listed his occupation as Emery Worker and indicated that he had no previous military experience. He was 17 years old (18 years old crossed out) and stood 5 feet 6 1/2 inches tall. He had grey blue eyes, fair hair and a medium complexion. He had a mole on his left forearm, a birthmark on his stomach and two moles on his back. He was Roman Catholic.

According to his attestation papers dated August 20, 1915 at Toronto, William John Higgins was born on June 5, 1894 in Wimbleton, Surrey, England. He listed his wife Florence May Higgins, Louisa Street, Mimico as his next of kin. He was an engineer and had no previous military experience. He was 31 years and 2 months of age and stood 5 feet 3 1/4 inches tall. He had blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. He was missing half of a finger on one hand. He was a member of the Church of England.

In the 1914 Toronto City directory he is listed as a fireman living on the east side of Louisa Street, Mimico.

He was a Corporal in the 21st Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment) when he was killed in action on April 9, 1917 at Vimy Ridge. He is buried in the Nine Elms Military Cemetery, Thelus, France. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website he was the son of John Higgins and the husband of Florence M. Higgins, of Teeswater, Ontario.

Obituary of W. J. Higgins, courtesy of the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

According to his attestation papers dated January 18, 1916 at Mimico, Sydney Hines, Mimico, Ontario was born on December 4, 1885 in Hertfordshire, England. He listed his wife Mrs. Mary Hines, Mimico, Ontario as his next of kin. He was a labourer at a Brass Works and was an active member of the 12th Regiment, York Rangers. He was 30 years and 1 month of age and stood 5 feet 7 inches tall. He had blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. He was a member of the Church of England.

In the 1914 Toronto City directory he is listed as a brickmaker living on the east side of Station Road, Mimico.

According to his attestation papers dated May 7, 1915 at Lindsay, Arthur Hockney was born on February 2, 1892 at Walthampton, Essex, England. He listed his mother Jane Hockney, Symons Street, Mimico as his next of kin. He was a fitter and had no previous military experience. He was 23 years and 3 months of age and stood 5 feet 5 inches. He had blue eyes, dark brown hair and a fair complexion. He had a small fibroma on his left foot. We was Methodist.

He was a Lance Corporal with the 38th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment) when he was killed in the trenches at Avion on June 26, 1917. He was buried at the La Chaudiere Military Cemetery near Vimy in France. According to information on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website his mother Jane Hockney, was living on Symons Street, Mimico.

According to his attestation papers dated February 8, 1916 at Mimico William Charles Hockney, Heman Street, Mimico was born on February 2, 1885 in London, England. He listed his wife Louisa May Hockney, Heman Street Mimico as his next of kin. He was a carpenter and had previous military experience with the 4th V.B. Essex Regiment. He was also a current member of the 12th Regiment, York Rangers. He was 31 years old and stood 5 feet 6 inches tall. He had blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. He was a member of the Church of England.

In the 1914 Toronto City directory he was boarding at the home of Joseph Holloway on the north side of the Lakeshore Road, Mimico.

In the 1921 Toronto City directory he was living on the south side of Heman Street, Mimico.

According to his attestation papers dated September 15, 1915 at Toronto, Ernest Hogg was born on August 1, 1897 at Hull, Yorkshire, England. He listed his father Thomas Hogg, Mimico Beach, as his next of kin. He was a machinist and had no previous military experience. He was 18 years and 1 month of age and stood 5 feet 7 1/2 inches tall. He had brown eyes, dark brown hair and a dark complexion. He was a member of the Church of England.

He was a Private in the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion when he was killed on July 16, 1916. According to the CEF burial register he was hit in the head and instantly killed by a bullet from an enemy rifle on the night of July 16, 1916, while proceeding with a party across country north east of Zillebeke Lake, Ypres. There is a note that he was buried in Sanctuary Wood. His remains were never found as he is listed on the Ypres Memorial (Menin Gate).

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website he was the son of Thomas and Carrie Louisa Hogg, of 190 Queen's Avenue, Mimico Beach, Ontario.

According to his attestation papers dated August 7, 1917 at Toronto Christopher Holdenby, Mimico, Ontario was born on November 5, 1890 at Islington, Ontario. He listed his mother, Mary Ann Holdenby, Mimico, Ontario as his next of kin. He was a plasterer and had no previous military experience. He was 26 years and 8 months of age and stood 5 feet 8 inches tall. He had brown eyes and hair and a medium complexion. He had an enlarged left ankle. He was Presbyterian.

He was a Sapper in the Canadian Enginees, Railway Depot when he was died on February 25, 1919 from influenza in the 2nd Scottish General Hospital in Edinburgh. He is buried in the Edinburgh (Comely Bank) Cemetery, Scotland. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website indicates that he was the son of George W. and Mary A. Holdenby, of Mimico, Ontario.

According to his attestation papers dated January 20, 1916 at Mimico, William Thomas Hosking, Elmer Street, Mimico was born on September 27, 1885 at Plymouth, England. He listed his wife, Mrs. Mary Helen Hosking, Elmer Street, Mimico as his next of kin. He was an electrician and had 6 years previous military experience with the RNR as a 1st class seaman. He was 30 years and 4 months of age and stood 5 feet 6 inches tall. He had brown eyes and dark hair and complexion. He was Presbyterian.

In the 1914 Toronto City directory he is listed as a car repr. living on the north side of Macdonald Avenue, Mimico.

According to his attestation papers dated February 7, 1916 at Toronto, Chester Arthur Hughes, Mimico Beach, was born on September 20, 1895 in Toronto. He listed his father Chester M. Hughes, Mimico Beach as his next of kin. He was a student at S.P.S. and had 2 years military experience with the C.O.T.C. (Canadian Officers’ Training Corps). He was 20 years and 4 months of age and stood 5 feet 11 inches in height. He had blue eyes, auburn hair and fresh complexion. He had a scar on his left shin. He was a member of the Church of England.

According to the 1911 census he was actually born in August 1892 and so was older than he indicated.

In the 1921 Toronto City directory his father Chester M. Hughes is listed as living on the south side of the Lakeshore Road, Mimico.

The following entry appears in the University of Toronto Roll of Service 1914-1918:

According to his attestation papers dated April 12, 1915 at Toronto, Thomas Hunt was born on July 24, 1891 at Manchester, England. He listed his brother, John Hunt, Macdonald Avenue, Mimico as his next of kin. He was a machinist and had previous military experience of 3 years with the 1st Battery, Manchester Regiment and 9 months with the 9th M. H. Toronto. He was 23 years and 9 months of age and stood 5 feet 3 3/4 inches tall. He had blue eyes, brown hair and a medium complexion. He was a member of the Church of England.

According to the 1914 Toronto City directory John Hunt his brother was also a machinist living on the north side of Macdonald Avenue, Mimico. His brother is living in the same location in 1921 but is listed as a fitter.

According to his attestation papers dated January 24, 1916 at Mimico, Joseph Hunter of Mimico, Ontario was born on November 5, 1877 at Lancs. England. He listed his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Hunter, Mimico, Ontario as his next of kin. He was a labourer and had no previous military experience. He was 38 years and 2 months of age and stood 5 feet 11 1/2 inches tall. He had grey eyes, fair hair and complexion. He was Methodist.

According to the 1911 census he was actually born in November 1876. In 1911 he and his wife Elizabeth had a son Joseph born in March 1903.

In the 1914 Toronto City directory he his listed as a labourer living on the north side of Southampton Street, Mimico.

In the 1921 Toronto City directory he is listed as a machinist living in the same location (though the street had been renamed Cavell Avenue)

According to his attestation papers dated May 1, 1917 at Toronto, William Wood Hutchins, Mimico Beach, Ontario was born on January 28, 1899 in Toronto. He listed his mother Vera Hutchins, Mimico Beach as his next of kin. He was a clerk and had no previous military experience. He was 18 years and 3 months of age and stood 5 feet 6 1/4 inches tall. He had blue eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. He had a mole on his stomach and left shoulder blade. And a scar in the centre of his back. He was Methodist.